Luca Brecel feels defeating Dafabet Masters champion Mark Allen might be the key that helps him put a nightmare year behind him.

World number 14 Brecel put in a stellar performance as he halted Allen’s title defence at the first hurdle, winning a high-quality affair 6-5 at Alexandra Palace.

Brecel top-scored with a fantastic 140 clearance in frame seven, though the Belgian also knocked in four more half-century contributions.

He wasn’t having things all his own way, Northern Ireland’s Allen having responded to trailing 3-1 at the mid-session interval by notching breaks of 96, 136, 83 and 99 en route to forcing a decider.

Brecel however lashed in a fabulous long red in the final frame before making a break of 58 to seize control, and, when Allen went in off with the cue ball while potting a trick brown in his attempt to get back in the frame, that was all that Brecel needed to wrap up his win.

The players met in the first round last year when Brecel bizarrely took two cues into the arena, having lost his preferred cue a few months earlier and struggled to find a replacement.

He has also suffered a shoulder problem and admits that 2018 was a tough time.

“Last year was so tough,” admitted the 23-year-old. “There were even times where I was almost looking for another job, everything was going against me on and off the table.

“It was really tough mentally and to win today was incredible. I had cue issues, a shoulder issue and then players would play unbelievable against me. I’m not a negative person but it was unbelievable at times. Today was a game to shake all of that off.”

Brecel took advantage of a first opportunity for players to have a 10-minute warm-up on the match table before play commenced, something he felt helped him.

“When I got my chance in the first frame I made a good break. It helped. Anytime I get a chance to do that I will do it. I’m surprised Mark didn’t,” he admitted.

Brecel can be backed at 26.00 to emulate Allen by going on to win the Dafabet Masters title this week.